$500,000 is still change compared to the nearly $50 million that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will pocket this season. So, the cash prize for winning the NBA Cup It has been underestimated on some occasions, considering that it would not bring any additional incentive or motivation to the players.
Paradoxically, the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks won the second edition of the trophy provides an excellent context to question this premise. The Wisconsin franchise has committed $193 million in salaries this year. However, this high quantity condenses in the heavy goods vehicles of the model. In fact, up to nine players from the current list of the Bucks – not including those with dual contracts – will make less than $3.2 million during the 2024-25 campaign. That is, the minimum salary based on their years of experience in the NBA. Thus, this range goes from the three million that Delon Wright will pocket to barely 1.1 million which corresponds to the rookie Tyler Smith, chosen in 33rd position during the last draft.
Taurean Prince, who only makes $2.9 million despite taking the starting forward job, reflected before the final against the Oklahoma City Thunder about the opportunity the NBA Cup title represented for Bucks players, also on an economic level.
“As you get on the bench, the contracts start to dwindle and you definitely want to win for the guys next to you as well,” Prince told the media. “This money could help these children buy a house for their family or the car they wanted. “So it’s something bigger than us.”
“There are many opportunities that we can take advantage of, not only for us individually, but for our teammates. So we all have it in mind. “We all know what the stakes are and what this money could mean for some.”
Clearly, the Bucks’ priority has always been the title and that was made known by Antetokounmpo and Lillard in the days leading up to the final event in Las Vegas, a wish also shared by newcomers Tyler Smith and AJ Johnson. “You can see the veterans fighting for the Cup. It’s not just about monetary reward; His desire to win speaks volumes about his competitive nature. We are motivated to be champions, whether in this tournament or during the NBA season. Winning is essential for us. As a team, we strive for victory in every competition we enter,” Johnson said.
But, for some, aware of the volatile and ephemeral idiosyncrasy of the NBA, the sum collected by winning the NBA Cup also represents an economic injection which allows them to consider the future of their career a little more calmly.
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